Design for a Moon/Mars surface habitat with parts made from locally produced glass

Paper number

IAC-05-A3.4.08

Author

Mr. Bas Lansdorp, Technical University of Delft (TUDelft), The Netherlands

Year

2005

Abstract

This paper presents a simple and cost effective way to make large habitats on Mars. The habitat will be constructed from prefabricated parts and local materials. While constructing the entire habitat from local materials is unfeasible for early missions, this design can be implemented during the very first manned mission.
The proposed habitat will have the shape of a cylinder and will consist of three parts: two semispherical end caps and the cylindrical middle part. The semispherical end caps will be launched from Earth and contain all equipment and interfaces. The cylindrical part will consist of a number of cylindrical segments that are made from regolith. Upon landing, the astronauts will produce the simple cylindrical parts from the regolith. This will be done by melting the untreated regolith and pouring the melt into a mold. This will result in a strong glass material. The cylindrical parts will be combined and placed in between the two semispherical end cabs. In this way a large habitat of more than 400 m2, can be constructed with only a single shape of constructive element.
To demonstrate the feasibility of the concept, several tests were performed: The tensile strength of the glass made from Moon and Mars soil simulants was tested. The pouring process was performed and the sensitivity of the quality of the glass to the cooling process was determined. Finally connecting the glass cylinder parts to each other was performed and the strength of the connection was determined.
The tests demonstrate that this habitat design method is simple and effective. It can be used on early missions to create a large habitat with great cost reductions compared to launching such a habitat.

Abstract document

IAC-05-A3.4.08.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-05-A3.4.08.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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